Football pitch upgrade at home of South East team

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Facilities at the home of the Scottish FA’s South East team have been upgraded after the Scottish Government and the University of Edinburgh invested a total of £875,000 in a new 3G pitch.

The University of Edinburgh’s Peffermill Playing Fields is a hub of activity for sports including rugby, hockey and football and their £575,000 investment marks their latest committment to the popular venue.

Scottish FA South East regional manager David Drummond said: “We are delighted the already outstanding Peffermill facility has been upgraded with the installation of this new pitch.

"We use the pitch for our 2020 Development Centres, coach education and girls regional performance squads.

“The Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities Fund, from where some of the funding comes, has been a terrific supporter of facility development for football all across Scotland.

"Thanks must go the University of Edinburgh for this significant investment also. They are excellent partners to work with.

“I’m looking forward to seeing many young people enjoying the new pitch when they come here to play football.”

The Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities fund takes money seized through the Proceeds of Crime Act and invests it in projects and facilities to benefit young people and the communities they live in across Scotland. It is also being backed by contributions from University funds.

The 3G development is one of the largest of its kind in the country, measuring 120mx80m. The pitch can be sub-divided and is supported by floodlights, team shelters and surround fencing.

The 3G facility at Peffermill is one of two such pitches to have opened in Edinburgh with support from CashBack funding – the other pitch is at City of Edinburgh Council's Meadowbank Sports Centre.

Jim Aitken, Director of Sport and Exercise at the University of Edinburgh, said: “This new state of the art 3G pitch at Peffermill will give University and community sports users access to a top quality playing surface year round.

“We are delighted to have joined forces with sportscotland, City of Edinburgh Council and the Scottish Football Association to bring this exciting project to fruition, and indebted to the funding support provided by Scottish Government’s CashBack for Communities Programme.”

Stewart Harris, Chief Executive of sportscotland, said: “CashBack is an excellent complementary Scottish Government funding stream and sportscotland is delighted to have been involved in this project at Peffermill with the University of Edinburgh.

“The £300,000 of CashBack funding, coupled with the design and specification expertise provided by sportscotland, has helped deliver a first-class synthetic grass pitch, which will undoubtedly be a real asset to the whole community.

“sportscotland is committed to investing in quality facilities as part of its drive towards developing a world-class sporting system at all levels and the new 3G pitch at Peffermill will help to increase the number of people involved in sport and physical activity throughout the area.”